OTTAWA — The moment of truth has arrived for the Argos, when everything that has been done or not been done is quickly dismissed.

What happened in the East final no longer has a bearing, the ifs and buts surrounding the two season losses to Calgary rendered meaningless, the pre-game chatter during Grey Cup week now silenced.

The Stamps are favoured, justifiably it must be noted, a team appearing in back-to-back Grey Cups, a franchise making its fourth trip in six years, a run that began when the Argos beat Calgary in the 2012 title game.

If both teams play at their best, Calgary wins, it’s simple as that. But history has shown that there never is that perfect game in a Cup backdrop, a bounce here, a drop there, some bogus officiating call or a coaching blunder often changing the fortunes of a game and its outcome.

The Argos have yet to play their perfect game, often showing glimpses, only to show regression the following week.

Even when they played as complete a game as they did in B.C. in the season finale, the Lions had thrown in the towel well before the opening kickoff knowing their season was done.

In the East final versus Saskatchewan last Sunday, the Argos offence came to life only on the game-winning drive late in the afternoon.

Along the way, there was a defensive score by the Argos, a punt-return major yielded and a missed field goal. In the 105th Grey Cup, the Argos must be perfect in all three phases because anything short will not be good enough against the Stamps.

Quarterback Ricky Ray must be clean and his line must keep him clean in the pocket. James Wilder Jr., who will face Calgary’s defence for the first time, must emerge as that dual threat out of the backfield.

Defensively, the unit must attack the Calgary backfield.

And on special teams, Roy Finch must be stopped.

One can easily make a case that, in all three phases, the Stamps are better with the Argos perhaps having a slight edge along the defensive line, marginal at best.

The one area where the Argos have an advantage involves head coach Marc Trestman, who, more than anyone, needs to extract the best out of his players and then some.

He’s been consistent all season and his presence is clearly reflected in his players and how they’ve prepared amid the noise during Grey Cup week.

It’ll be up to Trestman to scheme plays on first down that do not lead to second-and-obvious passing situations, find ways to get Wilder involved early and often and design a system that allows Ray to deliver the football quickly.

If Ray cannot function in the pocket, the Argos are doomed. The Argos will also need to force at least two turnovers and keep the penalties to a minimum.

“I think we’re in a good place,’’ receiver Jimmy Ralph said. “I don’t think we’re looking at Calgary that they are too big a task.

“I think we know what we have, trying to stay consistent with what we’ve been doing. It comes down to what we do. We know we have Calgary in the way to what we want to accomplish. We rely on what the coach has given us: Go out there and execute. That’s what it’s all about.”

At the end of the day, it always comes down to execution, especially when the stakes at their highest.

“We’re excited, we’re focused, we’re prepared, we’re anxious,’’ said linebacker Marcus Ball, one of four players remaining from that 2012 title team.

“It’s a big opportunity for the guys on our team. It’s just an exciting time.”

It could turn out to be the times of their lives if everything falls into place, one final chance to play as one with the inevitable and unavoidable changes that greet every off-season.

Redblacks quarterback Henry Burris pulled off a John Elway and Peyton Manning exit last fall, the kind of sendoff Ray must produce Sunday.

Ray needs to have the game of his life, but so do the rest of his teammates. There is no margin for error with these Argos against this good of a Stamps team.

Calgary was too cocky, too arrogant and took too much for granted last fall against Ottawa, paying the ultimate price when the Redblacks prevailed in overtime. It’s a different mood this time around.

The mood around the Argos is no different than it was Week 1 or at mid-season. They haven’t played their best and now only the best will keep them in contention.

This Week's Flyers

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